Royal Hideaway Playacar hotel in Cancun appoints award-winning Chef

Royal Hideaway Playacar, the first AAA Five-Diamond award-winning resort in Cancun and the Riviera Maya, has recently appointed prestigious award-winning chef Eugenio Villafana for the delight of guests and foodies enjoying Cancun holidays at the resort.

The luxury Royal Hideaway Playacar hotel and resort, located in Mexico’s tropical Cancun and Riviera Maya region and the first and only all-inclusive, adults-only resort to win the AAA Five-Diamond award, has recently appointed award-winning chef and raw food expert Eugenio Villafaña as their new Executive Chef. The highly acclaimed Chef Villafaña brings more than 15 years of experience to the resort, and a strong focus on sustainability, a special emphasis on delectable raw foods, vegetarian delicacies and fresh, local ingredients to the luxury resort.

In his new role as Executive Chef at the Royal Hideaway Playacar, Chef Villafaña will oversee a culinary team of 40 in food production, quality control, development of new culinary concepts, and training at the hotel’s six a la carte restaurants and banquet facilities which can accommodate up to 400 people. For the delight of many holidaymakers enjoying Cancun holidays at the top luxury resort, diners will be able to savour Chef Villafaña's fresh and delectable meals at Royal Hideaway’s selection of fine dining venues, including Las Ventanas (which offers an interactive Chef’s Table experience); Spices, which combines island flavours with authentic Mexican cuisine; Palazzo, featuring all-time Italian favourites; Azia, an Asian fusion restaurant, and more.

Shortly after starting his work at the luxury Cancun hotel, the chef has already made his mark on the resort's popular interactive dining experience, adding more vegetarian options and, coming soon, a raw food experience, given that he is accredited as the first certified RAW food Chef in the area. Appealing specially to eco-concerned travellers looking for environmentally-friendly holidays in Cancun with plenty of organic food choices, in addition to all the previously mentioned, Chef Villafaña is also working closely with the culinary team to increase the use of organic ingredients. In his short tenure they have already added organic, local produce (60 percent of their total produce).

The goal is to be 100 percent organic with all ingredients being locally-sourced in the near future. Under his direction, the team has also added gluten free and no sugar-added items to the popular High Tea menu, and cooking classes for guests are also in the planning stages. The idea is to introduce the concept of sustainable, environmentally-friendly cooking based around fresh produce so that guests can enjoy eco-friendly culinary experiences during Cancun holidays at the Royal Hideaway Playacar.

When asked about his favourite cooking style, Villafaña says, "My favorite “cooking” style is now “un-cooking”, preparing and eating live foods and super foods… with the same love with flavors from all over the world."

Talking about his love of culinary fusion and how his newly-learnt raw food cooking skills have changed him he says, "I have to confess that I still cook food but I cook it in a different perspective, I think raw… I’m thinking how to keep all nutrients of foods in the food by itself."

Chef Villafaña joins the Royal Hideaway Playacar culinary team most recently from the Villa Group in Nuevo Vallarta, Nayarit, Mexico, where he was named Embassador Chef of Nayarit State Cuisine by the governor for his work researching and implementing the pre-Hispanic gastronomy of the region. Previously, Villafaña served as Executive Chef & Corporate Chef for Miami-based Celebrity Cruises & Azamara Cruises. He has hosted dinners for Mexican dignitaries and politicians and taught culinary arts at the Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara. He is certified as a professional raw food chef by the Sunkitchen Institute.

“We are very pleased to welcome Chef Villafaña,” were the words from the hotel’s managing director, Jean Agarrista, “His passion and unique approach to the culinary arts make him a great addition to the Royal Hideaway Playacar family.”

And now is as good a time as ever to be planning sunny winter holidays to Cancun with Royal Hideaway’s winter travel specials offering great savings of up to 46 percent with starting rates of $220 per person, per night.

Cancun holidays at the Royal Hideaway Playacar include unlimited meals and snacks, with six a la carte restaurants, complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the property, 24-hour room service, unlimited drinks featuring premium alcoholic beverages, a selection of house wines, juices and soft drinks, daily resort activities, evening entertainment, DVD library, non-motorized water sports, and all taxes and gratuities. The Royal Hideaway Playacar's attentive staff will assist with other services, such as private dining on the beach, reservations at the exclusive Chef’s Table, and spa services at the Royal Hideaway Spa or on the beach.